Yet someone built this
Somebody took enough care
To dig out a French drain
And fill it with shingle
Somebody painted the cladding
In Yves Klein blue
Perhaps to give
The place an international feel
An artist’s workplace
It would seem to say
Not a dwelling for lemonade
Or cakes, or croquet on the lawn
Sunday 30 September 2018
Saturday 29 September 2018
Found
I came upon a blue hut
And sat beneath its window
Upon this slice of a log
A Potter’s studio
Or a writer's place of solitude
With a stand-up desk
Outdoors the grass is untended
A roll of chicken wire
Lays moribund, in the centre
Of the five metres square patch
Of rural roughness, on its way back
To nature, freed of mankind's nurture
And sat beneath its window
Upon this slice of a log
A Potter’s studio
Or a writer's place of solitude
With a stand-up desk
Outdoors the grass is untended
A roll of chicken wire
Lays moribund, in the centre
Of the five metres square patch
Of rural roughness, on its way back
To nature, freed of mankind's nurture
Friday 28 September 2018
Happened
In the dream you wished me well
Sent me off to my work
With a hug and a wave
That is after I had cleared out
All of the rubbish
From the old Ford Mondeo
You talked of parks
And ponds
Your day ahead
Almost exactly
As it was
Those twenty-eight years ago
Sent me off to my work
With a hug and a wave
That is after I had cleared out
All of the rubbish
From the old Ford Mondeo
You talked of parks
And ponds
Your day ahead
Almost exactly
As it was
Those twenty-eight years ago
Thursday 27 September 2018
Eventful
Where might those
Together afternoons
Have gone to
Would the colours
Have faded in the
Twice-weekly wash
Where might those
Tricky love words
Have moved on to
Would the essences
Have frayed, in the
Twice-yearly exposure
Together afternoons
Have gone to
Would the colours
Have faded in the
Twice-weekly wash
Where might those
Tricky love words
Have moved on to
Would the essences
Have frayed, in the
Twice-yearly exposure
Wednesday 26 September 2018
Wishful
There is a modernist in me
Or at least a soul
Who looks out for good quality
Which is then named as neat
Or right, or appropriate
Or correct, or well placed
He, as himself might care to be
Named by those self-same words
Particularly well placed
Instead he halfway tells us
Of an old love story
Which didn’t run its course
Or at least a soul
Who looks out for good quality
Which is then named as neat
Or right, or appropriate
Or correct, or well placed
He, as himself might care to be
Named by those self-same words
Particularly well placed
Instead he halfway tells us
Of an old love story
Which didn’t run its course
Tuesday 25 September 2018
Describe
The rug is blue
With a wide orange border
Part in shadow
Part in bright sunlight
The two settees
And three armchairs
Are placed with their backs
Against the common room walls
The floor is wooden
A long way from its best
With a wide orange border
Part in shadow
Part in bright sunlight
The two settees
And three armchairs
Are placed with their backs
Against the common room walls
The floor is wooden
A long way from its best
Monday 24 September 2018
Knowledge
Will I know more
By Sunday lunchtime
Will I know more
By looking back at these notes
Will I have captured
The stillness, the breeze
The beauty, the love
The altogether me, just being
And what of those
Who were here before
Where are they now
What became of those poets
By Sunday lunchtime
Will I know more
By looking back at these notes
Will I have captured
The stillness, the breeze
The beauty, the love
The altogether me, just being
And what of those
Who were here before
Where are they now
What became of those poets
Sunday 23 September 2018
Four Walls
Are these the trappings
A room to oneself
In the middle of the day
A room with French windows
Overlooking a garden
With birdsong and roses
I am also conscious
That I could have painted
The canvasses on these walls
I am though less conscious
Of my purpose; or of
What it is, which draws me here
A room to oneself
In the middle of the day
A room with French windows
Overlooking a garden
With birdsong and roses
I am also conscious
That I could have painted
The canvasses on these walls
I am though less conscious
Of my purpose; or of
What it is, which draws me here
Saturday 22 September 2018
Love
There was a table
Now there is no table
Was there a water feature
There is one now
But unkempt, and overgrown
There was laughter
Most supportive
And much appreciated
There were children
Playing hide and seek
Also other games too
Which they had invented
All by themselves
Now there is no table
Was there a water feature
There is one now
But unkempt, and overgrown
There was laughter
Most supportive
And much appreciated
There were children
Playing hide and seek
Also other games too
Which they had invented
All by themselves
Friday 21 September 2018
Change Has Occurred
This time will be different
For now you don’t know
What you bring with you
You don’t know what you seek
Or how you might seek it
Except that contemplation
Yes, contemplating, meditating
That might help, and yes
The writing is a good contribution
So simply to be aware
To take notes, to write down
All of the possibilities
For now you don’t know
What you bring with you
You don’t know what you seek
Or how you might seek it
Except that contemplation
Yes, contemplating, meditating
That might help, and yes
The writing is a good contribution
So simply to be aware
To take notes, to write down
All of the possibilities
Thursday 20 September 2018
All Of The Why
Why be here
Why be drawn
To reflect on that time
Of thirteen years ago
Except that
That you believe that that time
Changed you
Took away some of your angst
They let you talk, let you play
Let you become someone
Who for so so long
You had forgotten to be
Why be drawn
To reflect on that time
Of thirteen years ago
Except that
That you believe that that time
Changed you
Took away some of your angst
They let you talk, let you play
Let you become someone
Who for so so long
You had forgotten to be
Wednesday 19 September 2018
Trappist
Cool cool water
Seasonal salad
Mother and daughter
With an Irish ballad
Through black Black Mountain
To pools so still
A spider in the fountain
The end of your rill
Out through the window
On the lightest of breezes
Lay your love low
Take care of the creases
Seasonal salad
Mother and daughter
With an Irish ballad
Through black Black Mountain
To pools so still
A spider in the fountain
The end of your rill
Out through the window
On the lightest of breezes
Lay your love low
Take care of the creases
 |
| Available in Print or Kindle Click here or on Image |
Tuesday 18 September 2018
Stitching Detector
At the halfway point
Of Section One
The thinning line
In the weakest font
As if the rage does burn
When the one door closes
At the turn of the tide
Bless the blight of the roses
Still I go, slow and sure
Into the deeper obsession
Trapped; so wild, so pure
Without doubt, or oppression
Of Section One
The thinning line
In the weakest font
As if the rage does burn
When the one door closes
At the turn of the tide
Bless the blight of the roses
Still I go, slow and sure
Into the deeper obsession
Trapped; so wild, so pure
Without doubt, or oppression
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| Available in Print or Kindle Click here or on Image |
Monday 17 September 2018
Dining Room (Nearby)
The noise picks up
As lunchtime begins
The gong surely sounds
For the love you bring
The queues slowly shuffle
As the trolleys pass by
Conversations start to rustle
As the poets quietly sigh
And still you avoid
The everyday invitation
Your words without shape
Are hurtful to creation
As lunchtime begins
The gong surely sounds
For the love you bring
The queues slowly shuffle
As the trolleys pass by
Conversations start to rustle
As the poets quietly sigh
And still you avoid
The everyday invitation
Your words without shape
Are hurtful to creation
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| Available in Print or Kindle Click here or on Image |
Sunday 16 September 2018
Common Room
French conversation
Overheard somewhere near
Did I ever doubt
That you knew I would be here
Rag laid, oranges and creams
With sculptures too
How easily you do settle
In anywhere remotely new
White clouds float by
Across those skies of blue
There is no longer any fear
As I write these words for you
Overheard somewhere near
Did I ever doubt
That you knew I would be here
Rag laid, oranges and creams
With sculptures too
How easily you do settle
In anywhere remotely new
White clouds float by
Across those skies of blue
There is no longer any fear
As I write these words for you
|
| Available in Print or Kindle Click here or on Image |
Saturday 15 September 2018
& Buts
I wouldn’t have
You, I think you’ll agree
You would have
We, together or apart
We couldn’t have
Though, perhaps
In another life
Yes, maybe we could have
You, I think you’ll agree
You would have
We, together or apart
We couldn’t have
Though, perhaps
In another life
Yes, maybe we could have
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| Available in Print or Kindle Click here or on Image |
Friday 14 September 2018
Ifs
I most certainly would have
You probably wouldn’t have
I most absolutely should have
You quite likely shouldn’t have
I surely could have
You as it happens
Couldn’t have
I, looking back
Shouldn’t have
You, on reflection
Maybe should have
I, I hope you know
You probably wouldn’t have
I most absolutely should have
You quite likely shouldn’t have
I surely could have
You as it happens
Couldn’t have
I, looking back
Shouldn’t have
You, on reflection
Maybe should have
I, I hope you know
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| Available in Print or Kindle Click here or on Image |
Thursday 13 September 2018
Darling, Winter’s Over
I didn’t really know
Neither did you say
I hadn’t seen the show
Nor felt the need to pray
I didn’t want to go
But wasn’t welcome to stay
It wasn’t for me though
For you to have your own way
I listened, to the song of the snow
By the American stray
When the blackbird said hello
And blue skies turned to grey
Neither did you say
I hadn’t seen the show
Nor felt the need to pray
I didn’t want to go
But wasn’t welcome to stay
It wasn’t for me though
For you to have your own way
I listened, to the song of the snow
By the American stray
When the blackbird said hello
And blue skies turned to grey
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| Available in Print or Kindle Click here or on Image |
Wednesday 12 September 2018
Scents And Notes
From the scent of life
And the smiles of the faith
To the beauty of strife
And the needs of the waif
O to that place; so so far away
From the imagined mind
And the similes of lust
To the wondrous find
And the song of musk
O to that place; so so far away
To the scent of life
And the imagined mind
O to that place; so so far away
And the smiles of the faith
To the beauty of strife
And the needs of the waif
O to that place; so so far away
From the imagined mind
And the similes of lust
To the wondrous find
And the song of musk
O to that place; so so far away
To the scent of life
And the imagined mind
O to that place; so so far away
|
| Available in Print or Kindle Click here or on Image |
Tuesday 11 September 2018
Early Bird
As the day begins
And the night ends
With the start of sins
Become the best of friends
At the first of light
And the last of dark
To the shores of sight
With the morning lark
With breath to draw
Also cold water to wash
To the carrion crow
Before the life we squash
And the night ends
With the start of sins
Become the best of friends
At the first of light
And the last of dark
To the shores of sight
With the morning lark
With breath to draw
Also cold water to wash
To the carrion crow
Before the life we squash
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| Available in Print or Kindle Click here or on Image |
Monday 10 September 2018
Look
A lightness
And a darkness
With a selflessness
Which holds sway
A vagueness
And a sharpness
With a shadowiness
That simply will not go away
A sureness
And a doubtfulness
With a hopefulness
At least for the rest of the day
And a darkness
With a selflessness
Which holds sway
A vagueness
And a sharpness
With a shadowiness
That simply will not go away
A sureness
And a doubtfulness
With a hopefulness
At least for the rest of the day
|
| Available in Print or Kindle Click here or on Image |
Sunday 9 September 2018
Shop Till You Drop
In a deep velvet chair
In front of
A bloody great big mirror
Waiting, while
A new top is tried on
To match the recently gifted skirt
Of course
Neither the style, nor the fit
Or even the colour
Are quite to the liking
Of her best friend
In front of
A bloody great big mirror
Waiting, while
A new top is tried on
To match the recently gifted skirt
Of course
Neither the style, nor the fit
Or even the colour
Are quite to the liking
Of her best friend
|
| Available in Print or Kindle Click here or on Image |
Saturday 8 September 2018
Cube 7: Bottom, front, top, back, right, left
No change in circumstances
Yours, Amanda from Prudential
She reminds one of Georgina Clough (fifty years back)
Because Georgina’s father was also in insurance
And that’s the annual review over
A letter will be in the post
4% is the expected growth after charges
No change in circumstances
And that’s the annual review over
Have another good year
Be thankful for the last one
Be more thankful for the next one
Be more thankful for the next one
And may your health improve
May your frozen shoulder be cured
Because Georgina’s father was also in insurance
Be thankful for the last one
4% is the expected growth after charges
May your frozen shoulder be cured
She reminds one of Georgina Clough (fifty years back)
Have another good year
A letter will be in the post
And may your health improve
Yours, Amanda from Prudential
Yours, Amanda from Prudential
She reminds one of Georgina Clough (fifty years back)
Because Georgina’s father was also in insurance
And that’s the annual review over
A letter will be in the post
4% is the expected growth after charges
No change in circumstances
And that’s the annual review over
Have another good year
Be thankful for the last one
Be more thankful for the next one
Be more thankful for the next one
And may your health improve
May your frozen shoulder be cured
Because Georgina’s father was also in insurance
Be thankful for the last one
4% is the expected growth after charges
May your frozen shoulder be cured
She reminds one of Georgina Clough (fifty years back)
Have another good year
A letter will be in the post
And may your health improve
Yours, Amanda from Prudential
Friday 7 September 2018
Cube 7: Left, bottom, front, top, back, right
Bound up
In the dark dawn
Of deep introspection
Freed up
By the light-hearted
Freed up
By the blue-sky thinkers
Little fluffy clouds
Of outright avoidance
In the dark dawn
Where real stuff happens
By the light-hearted
Of outright avoidance
Bound up
Take to the hills
Take to the valleys
Take to the valleys
Of deep introspection
Where all might not be imagined
Little fluffy clouds
Take to the hills
Where real stuff happens
Where all might not be imagined
By the blue-sky thinkers
In the dark dawn
Of deep introspection
Freed up
By the light-hearted
Freed up
By the blue-sky thinkers
Little fluffy clouds
Of outright avoidance
In the dark dawn
Where real stuff happens
By the light-hearted
Of outright avoidance
Bound up
Take to the hills
Take to the valleys
Take to the valleys
Of deep introspection
Where all might not be imagined
Little fluffy clouds
Take to the hills
Where real stuff happens
Where all might not be imagined
By the blue-sky thinkers
Thursday 6 September 2018
Cube 7: Right, left, bottom, front, top, back
On the home straight
Half a box of boxes to go
It’s been a fun journey
Not only for me
No, others have joined in
Taken the idea to their hearts
Shoehorned in their old poems
Even begun anew; completely fresh stuff
Or older stuff on a new canvas
Even begun anew; completely fresh stuff
Not only for me
But in the spirit of collaboration
In the life of the moment
Taken the idea to their hearts
Half a box of boxes to go
Or older stuff on a new canvas
In the life of the moment
No, others have joined in
On the home straight
To loud applause and cheers
To loud applause and cheers
Shoehorned in their old poems
It’s been a fun journey
But in the spirit of collaboration
Half a box of boxes to go
It’s been a fun journey
Not only for me
No, others have joined in
Taken the idea to their hearts
Shoehorned in their old poems
Even begun anew; completely fresh stuff
Or older stuff on a new canvas
Even begun anew; completely fresh stuff
Not only for me
But in the spirit of collaboration
In the life of the moment
Taken the idea to their hearts
Half a box of boxes to go
Or older stuff on a new canvas
In the life of the moment
No, others have joined in
On the home straight
To loud applause and cheers
To loud applause and cheers
Shoehorned in their old poems
It’s been a fun journey
But in the spirit of collaboration
Wednesday 5 September 2018
Cube 6: Bottom, right, top, back, left, front
Too sensitive by half
Way too insensitive to boot
The introverted extrovert
The pessimistic optimist
The caricature of character
The player of many parts
The part of many players
The introverted extrovert
The disguise of disappearance
The re-appearance without thought
The caricature of character
The expression of express reaction
The expression of express reaction
Slow down now why don’t you
The part of many players
The pessimistic optimist
The re-appearance without thought
Let be what will be
Slow down now why don’t you
Way too insensitive to boot
The disguise of disappearance
Let be what will be
The player of many parts
Too sensitive by half
Way too insensitive to boot
The introverted extrovert
The pessimistic optimist
The caricature of character
The player of many parts
The part of many players
The introverted extrovert
The disguise of disappearance
The re-appearance without thought
The caricature of character
The expression of express reaction
The expression of express reaction
Slow down now why don’t you
The part of many players
The pessimistic optimist
The re-appearance without thought
Let be what will be
Slow down now why don’t you
Way too insensitive to boot
The disguise of disappearance
Let be what will be
The player of many parts
Too sensitive by half
Tuesday 4 September 2018
Cube 6: Front, bottom, right, top, back, left
The reality is here
And he is the only one
Even in the chattering silence
Which cannot be denied
Which cannot be denied
Even if
Even if no one reads this
Or no one is thinking anymore
About the good old days
Even in the chattering silence
Even with left-field thinking
Even if no one reads this
The reality is here
Here, deep in self-denial
About the good old days
Or hopes for the future
Or hopes for the future
With footsteps on warm beaches
Even with left-field thinking
Or no one is thinking anymore
Here, deep in self-denial
And he is the only one
With footsteps on warm beaches
Even if
And he is the only one
Even in the chattering silence
Which cannot be denied
Which cannot be denied
Even if
Even if no one reads this
Or no one is thinking anymore
About the good old days
Even in the chattering silence
Even with left-field thinking
Even if no one reads this
The reality is here
Here, deep in self-denial
About the good old days
Or hopes for the future
Or hopes for the future
With footsteps on warm beaches
Even with left-field thinking
Or no one is thinking anymore
Here, deep in self-denial
And he is the only one
With footsteps on warm beaches
Even if
Monday 3 September 2018
Cube 6: Left, front, bottom, right, top, back
Listening to Richard Hawley
Do you remember Coles Corner
The fence is left leaning
The clematis being such a weight
And Tonight the streets are ours
Do you remember Coles Corner
When The Old Stables
Were not even a dream
Were not even a dream
The clematis being such a weight
Yet we chose the Velux windows
To let in the light
To let in the cooler air
When The Old Stables
They did not have their new roof
Yet we chose the Velux windows
And Tonight the streets are ours
Listening to Richard Hawley
To let in the cooler air
But only when opened
But only when opened
The fence is left leaning
They did not have their new roof
To let in the light
Do you remember Coles Corner
The fence is left leaning
The clematis being such a weight
And Tonight the streets are ours
Do you remember Coles Corner
When The Old Stables
Were not even a dream
Were not even a dream
The clematis being such a weight
Yet we chose the Velux windows
To let in the light
To let in the cooler air
When The Old Stables
They did not have their new roof
Yet we chose the Velux windows
And Tonight the streets are ours
Listening to Richard Hawley
To let in the cooler air
But only when opened
But only when opened
The fence is left leaning
They did not have their new roof
To let in the light
Sunday 2 September 2018
Cube 6: Back, left, front, bottom, right, top
Another day for freedom to begin
Past items moved into storage
Hurtful words also shelved
As though in their darkness they might set him free
In between that day and this
As though I may try to explain it
Past items moved into storage
A void of a man, a gap of a man
A traveller without expression
As though I may try to explain it
Words of love, yet so well hidden
As to become words of something quite different
As to become words of something quite different
A void of a man, a gap of a man
A man denying his own closure
As though in their darkness they might set him free
Open his face up to the four winds
Words of love, yet so well hidden
Hurtful words also shelved
A man denying his own closure
A traveller without expression
In between that day and this
Open his face up to the four winds
Another day for freedom to begin
Past items moved into storage
Hurtful words also shelved
As though in their darkness they might set him free
In between that day and this
As though I may try to explain it
Past items moved into storage
A void of a man, a gap of a man
A traveller without expression
As though I may try to explain it
Words of love, yet so well hidden
As to become words of something quite different
As to become words of something quite different
A void of a man, a gap of a man
A man denying his own closure
As though in their darkness they might set him free
Open his face up to the four winds
Words of love, yet so well hidden
Hurtful words also shelved
A man denying his own closure
A traveller without expression
In between that day and this
Open his face up to the four winds
Another day for freedom to begin
Saturday 1 September 2018
Cube 6: Top, back, left, front, bottom, right
Nothing is there now
Except the certainty
The absolute meaning of nothing at all
Nothing should be certain
Nothing should be certain
Is itself worthy of repetition
Is itself worthy of dwelling upon
Take a few moments longer to ponder
Accept the certainty
Welcome the faint new light shining
Is itself worthy of repetition
Yes, so so worth looking again
Nothing is there now
Welcome the faint new light shining
A smile which tries to say I love you
An enigma, of the enigmatic kind
An enigma, of the enigmatic kind
Yes, so so worth looking again
If you have read any or all of those books
Take a few moments longer to ponder
The absolute meaning of nothing at all
A smile which tries to say I love you
Is itself worthy of dwelling upon
If you have read any or all of those books
Except the certainty
The absolute meaning of nothing at all
Nothing should be certain
Nothing should be certain
Is itself worthy of repetition
Is itself worthy of dwelling upon
Take a few moments longer to ponder
Accept the certainty
Welcome the faint new light shining
Is itself worthy of repetition
Yes, so so worth looking again
Nothing is there now
Welcome the faint new light shining
A smile which tries to say I love you
An enigma, of the enigmatic kind
An enigma, of the enigmatic kind
Yes, so so worth looking again
If you have read any or all of those books
Take a few moments longer to ponder
The absolute meaning of nothing at all
A smile which tries to say I love you
Is itself worthy of dwelling upon
If you have read any or all of those books
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